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Rugby League > Blues pack facing massive task
By Steve Jancetic
June 29, 2010

All nine NSW forwards named to play in the series finale have combined for as many Origin appearances as Queensland stalwart Petero Civoniceva - highlighting the enormity of the task facing the Blues.

A pack featuring three debutants - front row trio Kade Snowden, Tim Mannah and old stager Jason King - will lock horns with one of the best batch of forwards ever put out by the Maroons.

So good in fact they couldn't find room for current Test prop Ben Hannant in the 17-man squad, who was dropped in order to accommodate the return of Civoniceva.

Queensland's wealth of options are in stark contrast to NSW's desperate gamble on untested rookies.

Mannah hasn't even been able to crack a starting spot at Parramatta as yet, the most experienced man in the Blues pack - Cronulla firebrand Paul Gallen - admitting there was no bigger challenge in the game than taming the Maroons juggernaut.

"It's a challenge for Snowy and Kingy to go up against the best and that's what he (Civoniceva) is and they'll try and get it over him on the night," Gallen said.

"That (statistic) says more about Petero than anything else - he's superhuman really the way he plays ... for them to get him back it's a big boost for them.

"Kingy's not young but he's playing his first game and is inexperienced at this level.

"Snowy's not a big talker and he leads by his actions as well, I don't think there'll be a problem with Snowy and Kingy's a tough bloke."

While the Blues are desperate to save face with a win in the dead rubber at ANZ Stadium next Wednesday, there is little doubt the selection of the new-look engine room plus rookie winger Michael Gordon has been made with one eye on the future.

"If these young guys can go out there and do well they can go some way to being a part of the team for some time," said new skipper Trent Barrett, who takes over the captaincy from Kurt Gidley despite the Newcastle utility retaining his position on the bench.

"It is important they enjoy it and up to us senior guys to help them through."

Snowden said he would rely on the experience of his past confrontations against the Queensland forwards at club level to fuel his belief he could match it with the best.

The 23-year-old will be hoping for a better output than the last time he went up against Civoniceva, when he ran for just 87 metres in the round ten clash against Penrith for his lowest output since round three.

In his four games that followed and eventually led to his NSW call-up, Snowden ran for 176, 137, 165 and 149 metres.

"They're a good side and they're big but we've played them all before in the NRL - it's not nothing we haven't done before," Snowden said.

"Everyone wants to have that first hit-up, I'm no different. After I get that out of the way I think I'll be sweet."

The Blues will hold their first training session at Parramatta on Wednesday before the camp shifts to Wollongong as it did in the lead-up to game one.
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